MSNBC’s Craig Melvin explores the legacy of HBCUs, the challenges they face and what the future holds.

This weeklong series looks at the roots of historical black colleges and universities and how they are changing out of necessity.

The series looks at how HBCUs are meeting the challenges placed on them by financial and political pressures. Melvin also does a deep dive into the issue of recruitment and how these traditionally black institutions are aggressively working to recruit students who are not black.

In part one, Craig Melvin covers the impact of dwindling funds and endowments that is forcing some HBCUs to close their doors.